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One of the “bonus” birds that late season hunters may encounter during the winter dove season are the Eurasian Collared doves. This one was downed last year during a hunt in Karnes County. RALPH WININGHAM/FOR THE EXPRESS-NEWS

By Ralph Winingham
For the Express-News

There are few certainties in the dove hunting world, particularly in the late season when most hunters are more concerned about whether they will find a new firearm, knife or other outdoor gear under their Christmas tree.

With the late season starting today and running through Jan. 23 in the South Zone and Jan. 8 in the North and Central Zones, those who do venture out into the fields and fence rows in search of mourning and white-winged doves can be certain they will not have a lot of company.

“Our hunter surveys have shown that only a very small portion of the annual harvest occurs in the late season,” said Corey Mason, dove program leader for the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department.

“In the South Zone, that harvest is only about 4 percent. This year the late season runs for a full month so the hunters will have more opportunity to find the birds.”

Typically, the winter season requires hunters to locate a source of water or food that attracts the doves and then take advantage of any concentration for only one or two hunts before the birds move to safer territory.

During the regular season, most of the birds that end up in game bags are harvested during the first 14 days of the season and, in many cases, will remain in an area for some time — supplemented by flights of northern birds migrating south from colder climates.

“Doves coming to Texas from the north are already here by December, so you will not see the flights of northern birds that can come in during the regular season,” Mason said. “There can be some really great hunting in the late season, but the doves will move out of an area pretty quickly if there is much hunting pressure.”

Although there has been some limited rainfall in the past few weeks — providing water sources and weed growth that were not available during the regular season — late-season hunters can expect to find few hunting bonanzas this year.

Mason said most of the late season hunting would take place around Christmas — possibly hunters trying out that new shotgun they received as a present — and around the New Year’s holiday.

The majority of the birds harvested by hunters will be mourning doves that tend to remain in the area through the winter. However, decent numbers of white-winged doves that seem to have taken up residence and don’t migrate farther south can be found in some areas.

In addition, there are a growing number of Eurasian Collared doves making their homes in the area. As a non-native species, the Eurasians are considered exotics and can be shot anytime, and there’s no limit on the number of birds with the distinctive ring around their necks.

The Eurasians tend to stay around farm buildings, such as barns, and mainly frequent feed lots. They have expanded to most areas of the state and more hunters seem to be taking advantage of the “bonus” birds.

For those late season hunters focusing on mourning doves and white wings, a word of advice from area outfitters is to watch for cold fronts that will push the birds farther south.

Foard Houston of the Sandy Oaks Ranch in Devine said he has also observed a change in the feeding pattern of late-season birds.

“They have to eat more to maintain their energy, but they don’t stay out in the fields very late,” Houston said. “Most of the time the birds all leave well before sunset.”

Dove hunting is more popular in Texas than anywhere else in the country, with an estimated annual economic impact of $300 million.

“Some of my best hunts have been late in the season,” said Mason, adding that there is always room in the field for a few more hunting buddies.

Ralph Winingham is a freelance outdoors writer and photographer. Email at rwiningham@att.net.

DATA BANK

- Just like in the regular season, hunters are being asked to report any leg bands recovered on birds they harvest by calling 800-327-BAND (2263) or by visiting the website reportband.gov.

- The information developed from the banding program, one of the largest efforts in the county that started in Texas in 2003, can help biologists determine the mortality rate, travel patterns and other information necessary to maintain the resource.

- Ralph Winingham

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News and information on hunting, archery and fishing in South and Central Texas. Boating, lake level and river level information provided for Braunig Lake, Lake Calaveras, Canyon Lake, Medina Lake and others. Whitetail deer and turkey season information and tips.